Prison Service: Misconduct

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prison officers have been  (a) suspended and  (b) dismissed on grounds of gross misconduct in each of the last three years; and for what reasons in each case.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows the number of prison officers who have been  (a) suspended and  (b) dismissed on grounds of gross misconduct in the last three years for the reasons stated.
	
		
			   Action  Misc onduct 
			 2006 4 suspensions 1 harassment 
			   2 PSNI criminal investigations 
			   1 fraudulent activity involving expenses 
			
			  3 dismissals 1 failure to provide relevant information on security form 
			   2 subject to criminal proceedings 
			
			 2007 2 suspensions 1 interfered with prisoner's confidential correspondence 
			   1 fraudulent activity involving a prisoner 
			
			  2 dismissals 1 harassment 
			   1 fraudulent activity involving a prisoner 
			
			 2008 17 suspensions 16 neglect of duty 
			   1 inappropriate relationship with a prisoner 
			
			  2 dismissals 1 interfered with prisoner's confidential correspondence 
			   1 inappropriate relationship with a prisoner